NYC Mayor DeBlasio went full-throttle on NY Governor Cuomo in a Thursday morning MSNBC interview. In the interview, DeBlasio was asked about allegations that Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim, who says he was yelled at and threatened by Cuomo after criticizing his handling of the staggering number of COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes – which is now being looked into by federal authorities. “It’s a sad thing to say … but that’s classic Andrew Cuomo. A lot of people in New York state have received those phone calls. The bullying is nothing new. I believe Ron Kim and it’s very, very sad, no public servant no person who’s telling the truth should be treated that way.

Israel vaccinated its four millionth citizen on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion joining Theodore Slazzen for a photo op at a Leumit Health services clinic in Jerusalem. Over 2.7 million Israelis have been fully vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine. “I want to appeal the 570,000 people over 50 who haven’t yet been vaccinated,” Netanyahu said after Slazzen was vaccinated. ” Almost 100% of fatalities and severe cases are in this group.

The FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office started an investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes amid the ongoing pandemic, according to reports. Cuomo has been slammed in the last week with accusations that he covered up New York’s nursing home death toll. Families on Wednesday called for a federal probe. The state’s reported death toll ballooned from around 9,000 – a number that excluded nursing home residents who died of coronavirus at hospitals – to just over 15,000 after a state attorney general report. According to The Times Union, the probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York is in its early stages.

Israel’s Health Ministry published new data on coronavirus morbidity in children on Tuesday, A total of 1,787 children under the age of 18 have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic, and 100 children were seriously ill. Nine children passed away due to the virus. A majority of the pediatric coronavirus cases, 1,021, were in children younger than four. There are currently seven children hospitalized in serious condition, of whom three are ventilated. In recent weeks, there has been a spike in the number of young adults seriously ill with the coronavirus. There are currently at least 32 Israelis under the age of 30 in serious condition due to the virus, of whom 11 are ventilated. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

By the thousands, U.S. service members are refusing or putting off the COVID-19 vaccine as frustrated commanders scramble to knock down internet rumors and find the right pitch that will persuade troops to get the shot. Some Army units are seeing as few as one-third agree to the vaccine. Military leaders searching for answers believe they have identified one potential convincer: an imminent deployment. Navy sailors on ships heading out to sea last week, for example, were choosing to take the shot at rates exceeding 80% to 90%. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jeff Taliaferro, vice director of operations for the Joint Staff, told Congress on Wednesday that “very early data” suggests that just up to two-thirds of the service members offered the vaccine have accepted.

Following the release of letters from the Rabbonim of Lakewood and Rabbonim of Los Angeles and the Rabbonim of Chicago, the Rabbonim of Baltimore have also released a letter ahead of Purim. The letter follows: To Our Beloved Community, I want to begin by thanking the men, women, and children of our community for their efforts in helping to keep our greater Kehilla Kedosha safe as the pandemic continues. It is hard to believe that with the arrival of Purim we will mark a year since the pandemic changed every aspect of our lives. With incredible Siyata D’Shmaya we have access to vaccines, and we all hope that in the coming weeks and months they will be made more widely available. But we cannot let our guard down.

As Purim approaches, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein called on Roshei Yeshivah to keep close tabs on their bochurim over Purim. “It’s appropriate this year, more than any other year, that Roshei Yeshivos make sure that the bochurim remain in the yeshiva on Purim and learn and not make rounds to homes at all and not during the Seduah either [to collect funds].” “It’s appropriate to add to our limmud Torah on Purim – this the only zechus that will protect us from the coronavirus. And if there won’t be more infections, summer z’man will be able to begin without any restrictions.” “The days of Purim are mesugal to merit Kabbalas HaTorah and higher levels of ruchniyus.

Covid-19 hit almost exactly a year ago, and its effect is still reverberating throughout our communities. The rabbinical leaders of many communities have ruled to prevent institutions from visiting their supporters over Purim, which has severely impacted these organization’s ability to raise funds for the needs during one of the most pivotal fundraising days of the year. Traditionally, Purim has been a time of Matanos L’evyonim, whereby fundraisers are able to visit their donors in person and tap into their generosity on this special day. This year’s unprecedented situation has left askanim scrambling to find solutions.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel in a speech on Tuesday evening in response to a three-day IDF drill this week, simulating a large-scale war with Hezbollah. “After all the recent threats from Israel, no one can guarantee that it won’t lead to war. Israel’s home front will see things it hasn’t seen since its establishment,” Nasrallah said via video from his undisclosed location. “We are not interested in conflict or war, but if war is imposed on us, we will fight.” “If Israel bombs cities in Lebanon, we’ll bomb cities in Israel, and if it bombs villages in Lebanon, we’ll bomb towns in Israel.

A Rosh Kollel with many branches throughout Israel approached Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, chaver Motetzes Gedolei HaTorah, to ask him a shaila regarding those who choose not to vaccinate, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. This Rav’s Kollelim are very makpid on shemiras sedarim and he told the Rosh Yeshivah with great pain on the tremendous amount of Bittul Torah during the winter zeman due to many avreichim contracting the coronavirus and others being required to enter quarantine. The Rav wanted to know what he should do ahead of the upcoming summer zeman regarding avreichim who don’t want to vaccinate. Can he require that the avreichim vaccinate as a condition for remaining in the kollel?